Poll shows Russian poverty rife

MOSCOW: Four out of ten Russians are so badly off that they are struggling to feed themselves and their families, a poll has found before parliamentary elections next month.

The survey, by the independent Levada Centre, was released as President Vladimir Putin ordered one-off payments to pensioners and members of the armed forces in an attempt to boost support for his ruling United Russia party before the vote on September 19. Half of the population is often unable to afford new clothes and shoes, according to the polling.

United Russia’s approval ratings have fallen to a near record low of 30 per cent after widespread poverty and allegations of corruption, Vtsiom, the state-run pollster, reported last week.

Only 15 per cent of voters in Moscow, Russia’s richest city, support the party, according to the survey by the Levada Centre.

On Tuesday Mr Putin signed off handouts of 10,000 roubles ($190) for pensioners and 15,000 roubles for military personnel after the elections.

Mr Putin said that planned social spending was no longer sufficient to cover annual inflation, which is at a five-year high of 6.5 per cent.

The Times